Vacuum cleaner suction unit



July 15, 1958 c. E. HANSEN VACUUM CLEANER SUCTION UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27, 1954 75? CMa'ce 5264:4922) July 15, 1958 I ,c. E. HANSEN 2,843,314

VACUUM" CLEANER SUCTION UNIT Filed Sept. 27, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 z v j/i/zuezzia July 15, 1958 c. E. HANSEN 2,843,314

VACUUM CLEANER sucnou UNIT Filed Sept. 2'7. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent VACUUM CLEANER SUCTION 'UNIT Clarence Ellegaard Hansen, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

.mesne assignments, to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 27, 1954, Serial No. 458,597 2 Claims. (Cl. 230-232) This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner suction unit.

there areserious problems involved not only of mounting the'unit for effectiveoperation, but also in reducing the vibrationand noise caused by the operation of the motor and fan unit. The presentinvention is concerned with an improved supportingapparatus for such aunit by means of which the unit is securely supported and vibration and thus resulting noise effectively reduced.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the cleaner embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation, taken through the rear portion of the cleaner of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially broken away for clarity of illustration, showing the support means adjacent to the shell of the cleaner.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view, taken substantially along line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view, illustrating the support for the suction fan end of the motorfan unit.

Fig. 6 is a detailed cross sectional view of the vacuum cleaner, taken substantially along line 66 of Fig. 2 but omitting the motor.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional elevational view, taken substantially along line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the vacuum cleaner includes a shell 10, a front end cap 11 closing this end of the shell and a rear end cap 12 closing the rear end of the cleaner. The front cap 11 is hinged to the shell as by means of the hinge 13 and this end cap is releasably locked closed by means of a toggle catch 14. This front end cap 11 is provided with an inlet opening in which an air intake conduit such as an ordinary hose 15 may be attached. The rear end cap 12 is provided with air outlet openings 12a and a central air outlet 16a defined by an inwardly extending tubular member 16.

Positioned within the interior of the vacuum cleaner a 2,843,314 P-atented luly 15, 1958 tends all the way across the shell 10. The member 20 may-be provided with a fibrous filter22. This filter acts as a secondary filter to remove any particles 'of *dirt "or dust that may be left in the airstream before it enters the motor and fan unit. As is customary in vacuum cleaners of this type, the primary filteringfunct-ion is performed by a'bag filter (not shown) either of cloth,

paper orsimilar material positioned in the front of the cleaner and in communicationwith the inlet hose '15.

The supporting apparatus for the motor and fan *unit includes a bracket attached to the unit intermediateits ends and extending rearwardly of and toward-the vacuum cleaner casing. In the embodiment shown, this bracket 23 is annular and has the shape of a truncated cone. The bracket is provided with substantially parallelopposite side flanges 23a and 23b. The bracket 23 extends rearwardly of the unit and to a point adjacent to the inner surface of the shell 10. The bracket is attached in place bylbolting the inner flange ZSabetWeen-thefan structure 17 and the motor structure "18. Thebolts :19 "serve to provide-this "connection.

The outer edge of the bracket 23 is resiliently -"supported by the shell 10. In order to provide thisresilient support, this outer edge is held in a gasket 24"which in 'turn is heldby'a channel member26 having a-flange 26a "attached as by-wlding tothe inner sur'faceof the'shell and a second flange 26b extending toward-the bracket "23 andin engagement with an innerrib '24a of' the gasket 24. The sides of the gasket 24 are provided with a plurality of these spaced ribs 24a, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 4.

The side of the resilient gasket 24 opposite to the channel member 26 is grasped by a second channel member 25 similar in shape but smaller in outer diameter than the channel member 26. This second channel member also has an outer flange 25a but this flange is adjacent to but spaced inwardly of the casing 10 and is unattached thereto. The second channel member 25 also has an inner flange 25b extending toward the similar flange 26b of the other channel member and also bearing against the inner surface of an inner rib 24a. This second channel member is unattached to the casing 10.

Each channel member 25 and 26 is provided with four inwardly extending arcuate portions 25d and 26d as illustrated at Figure 7. Each pair of arcuate portions 25d and 26d is located opposite to each other and at an inner corner of the vacuum cleaner. The resilient gasket 24 is similarly provided with inwardly extending arcuate portions 240 located between the arcuate portions 25d and 26d. Each pair of channel member arcuate portions 25d and 26d with the gasket arcuate portion 240 is provided with a clamping screw 30. Each clamping screw 30 has its head 30a bearing against the outer surface of the movable channel member 25 and its threaded body extending through the resilient gasket 24, through an opening 23d in the bracket 23 and into threaded engagement. with the fixed channel member 26. The opening 23d in the bracket is considerably larger than the cross sectional diameter of the screw so that the screw is out of contact with the bracket.

The screws 30 hold the gasket 24 clamped between the channel members 25 and 26. This provides a resilient support for the bracket 23 and thus for the motor and fan unit. This resilient support is substantially free floating because the gasket itself is resilient and because the channel members 25 and 26 bear against the outer surfaces of the flexible ribs 24a. These ribs, together with the remainder of the gasket, serve to support the bracket and motor and fan unit and also to efficiently absorb vibration.

With the above construction, the resilient mounting of the motor and fan unit serves to decrease vibration and noise during the operation of the cleaner.

As the annular bracket 23 is substantially rigid, the vibration caused danger of being too weak. Thus, the dish shape actually contributes to the strength of the bracket and its ability to resist bending. The particular shape of the bracket also permits it to be attached at the juncture of the motor and fan structures where the fastening means for these structures, such as the bolts 19, may be utilized and also permits the bracket to extend rearwardly so that the supporting gasket 24 can be located approximately opposite to the center of gravity or balance of the relatively heavy motor structure 18. The bracket 23 being air impervious also prevents air escaping around the motor and fan unit but directs all of the air into the inlet 17a of the fan and from there through the motor structure 18 where it serves the cleaner cooling function.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims. I claim: 1 In a vacuum cleaner including a horizontal casing, an electric motor structure therein, a fan structure and means attaching the motor and fan structures in alignment to form a horizontal motor-fan unit within .the casing, supporting apparatus, comprising: an annular air impervious nonplanar bracket arranged generally vertically attached to and extending around said unit and having its outer peripheral edge portion adjacent to said casing; a resilient gasket embracing said peripheral edge portion; an annular support member attached to said casing and enclosing a portion of said gasket but out of engagement with said bracket; and clamping means spaced from said casing clamping said gasket against said support member and also out of engagement with said bracket so that the bracket and thus the motor-fan unit is supported substantially entirely by said gasket.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the gasket has two opposing sides and a pair of spaced inner surfaces, and said support member comprises a clamping member on one side of the gasket having an inner rim portion embracing one of said inner surfaces of said gasket, and said clamping means comprises a second clamping member on the opposite side of the gasket having an outer edge portion located inwardly of and out of contact with said casing and an inner rim portion embracing the other inner surface of said gasket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,418,238 Cramer May 30, 1922 1,866,154 Ell July 5, 1932 2,020,092 Allen Nov. 5, 1935 2,060,980 Ell Nov. 17, 1936 2,307,827 Doughman Jan. 12, 1943 2,670,896 Ardito Mar. 2, 1954 

